We, as Children of God are called to suffer.
The Bible clearly states that as children of the Almighty we are going to suffer for His name's sake. Romans 8:17 states, "..and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heir with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." We are called to endure. We are to partake in the suffering of our Lord, are we not? 2 Timothy 2:12 says, "If we endure, we will also reign with Him: If we deny Him, He also will deny us." Because of our faith we are called to lay everything down, even our lives if it is asked of us. We are to count it all as loss. Everything we have, is it ours? Do we really have a right to keep what we have? Paul writes to the Philippians and speaks boldly of his sufferings and what he has endured. Did he do it for himself? No, he did it to gain Christ. To be closer to God. He writes,
"Although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:4-11
In verses 4-6 Paul is basically saying, "Really, if anyone is proud of himself, it should be me. I have a pedigree, I am a Hebrew of Hebrews. I know the Scriptures. I was looked up to by many. I persecuted Christians. I was blameless as to the Law." Obviously all of these things were his life, they where what gave him joy, his status, his purpose. Then when he met Christ on Damascus road, it all came crashing down. No more Pharisee, no longer a persecutor of the church, and no longer blameless in the face of the law but in the righteousness and blood of Christ. As a new creation, Paul saw all of these things as nothing. He counted what once was gain all as loss. Paul doesn't stop there, he doesn't just count a few things as loss to him but he counts 'all things' as loss compared to knowing Christ. Jesus speaks of this matter in Luke 14:33, "So then, none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions."
As a side note--If you have wondered about this verse before, I think Piper does a great job explaining what he believes it to mean. Here is what John Piper writes about Luke 14:33:
What This Means Practically
Now what does that mean practically? I think it means four things:
- It means that whenever I am called upon to choose between anything in this world and Christ, I choose Christ.
- It means that I will deal with the things of this world in ways that draw me nearer to Christ so that I gain more of Christ and enjoy more of him by the way I use the world.
- It means that I will always deal with the things of this world in ways that show that they are not my treasure, but rather show that Christ is my treasure.
- It means that if I lose any or all the things this world can offer, I will not lose my joy or my treasure or my life, because Christ is all.
In the second half of verse 8, Paul goes on to tell us that he has suffered for the sake of Christ. He says, "I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ."
What does it mean to suffer the loss of all things? Can you even imagine? Does this man have no taste for comfort?! No desire to be happy?!
Yes. Paul has the best perspective on what it means to be happy. You know how that is?
HE HAS SEEN CHRIST. Through his sufferings he has gained Christ. Did he have Christ before suffering. Yes. Did he have deep communion? No. Not the type of communion that comes through suffering. After Job suffered--note that I said "after"--he said this about God, "I have heard of You by hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You."
Is it possible that we see Christ clearer when we have suffered and endured for Him? I would say a resounding YES!!! Why wouldn't we? When all else gets stripped away, we can see. No longer do we have to look through the blur and fog of worries of this life. Our mind will be focused and our actions and prayers will be aimed at how we can bring Him glory rather than how we can give Him glory still holding onto the world with a white-knuckled death grip.
Suffering brings contentment.
This may seem like a complete oxymoron, but if you turn it over in your mind, it makes sense. Not only is it logical, the statement can be backed up with scripture...
"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having an abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13
Paul is telling us that he has learned to be content in suffering and hunger. How can a person be content going hungry? How can one be happy when faced with suffering? Most of us don't realize what Paul is hitting on here. We brush over it and think, Well, Paul was and extraordinary person! Yes, he was in many ways, but he was human, he didn't have superpowers. He was like you and me. Can we, simple people (Who have the same calling to the same Lord), be like Paul? Can we rejoice in suffering? What good will a grumbling spirit do us (or anyone else) in the midst of suffering? It will only cause harm to come to our hearts and possibly to those who would otherwise be witnessed to by your faith. Scripture tells us that we should greatly rejoice in our sufferings:
"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." Colossians 1:24
Here, the one who suffers (Paul) says that he will rejoice. He is not rejoicing for his own sake but for the sake of Christ and the church. Will you suffer for the sake of Christ and the church?
" ...they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as Christ." Acts 5:40-42
To me, it looks as if they were preaching and teaching, got taken before the Council, got punished by way of flogging, then they left rejoicing....WHAT IS THIS? They got flogged and they were rejoicing because they where counted worthy to suffer for Christ's name. Even after this shameful punishment they left rejoicing, ready to go out and speak Christ's name. They were really asking for it, huh? Obviously proclaiming the name of Jesus was more important to these men than the comfort of...well...NOT being flogged.
In Philippians 3:9, I see Paul telling the church that his he has faith and righteousness through Christ, not through anything he has done. I also feel and underlying current of Paul's deep rooted faith being grounded not only in Christ but in the sufferings that he has endured for the sake of Christ.
We are strengthened and refined in struggles and sufferings.
"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 6-7
Jesus also speaks of the "refining" of his people in John 15:2, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit."
Are you going to prepare yourself to suffer? Are you going to allow the Almighty to prune you so that you may bear more fruit? Is suffering a path that you are willing to take as a son of God?
It has to be.
If you are a child of the Lord, you will suffer for His name's sake. You will face trials and tribulations. We will be shamed and yes, some will have the honor of giving their lives for the great calling of God.
Paul saw his sufferings as a way of fellowship with the sorrows and pain of Christ in His death on the cross (Phil. 3:10)
The last verse is very powerful. He speaks of his salvation here. He knows full well that if he is to suffer and die for Christ, he has eternity to look forward to. He is sure and confident in his faith and the redemption that was received when Christ laid down his life.
I can't help but hear the surety in Paul's voice when he speaks to the churches. I see a man who was saved by grace, therefore emboldened by Christ through prayer and outreach, completely ready to die for the call of the Kingdom, and totally surrendered to God while enduring the pains of flogging and imprisonment.
We must ask ourselves, Will I suffer?
Note to the reader:
I was very inspired by John Piper's sermon (as mentioned above). I was lead to write this because it seemed to move me greatly. I may not have everything right. I pray that the Lord spoke through my words to encourage and lift you (who read this) up today. I ask that the Lord would reveal to me any untruth in the script above if there be any. I also pray that God would continue to bless and keep His children. May He watch over his persecuted one's and show those who have yet to taste suffering what it means to become deeply in love with Christ by rejoicing in any and every circumstance.
I am not in any way saying that I rejoice in the death of the persecuted, but I pray for them. I am merely making a point, rooted in scripture. The true children of God will suffer.
Acts 14:22
"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."
May God bless and keep you all! I hope you have a lovely week!
Blessings in Him,
Rachel
If you have any questions or would be interested in questioning/challenging this post, feel free to comment bellow. *Only comments that are free of profanity will be posted on this blog.*
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